In California in 2019, more than 161,000 domestic violence calls for assistance were made by people frightened by physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Few things in life are more terrifying than domestic violence. Domestic violence is all about the control the abuser asserts over you. The law provides ways you can take back control, but navigating the process is something you shouldn’t do alone.
At the Law Office of Karen S. Brown, we help victims of domestic violence find safety. If you live in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange or San Bernardino counties, call the office today to start your journey toward a new life. Karen S. Brown can help ensure you and your children stay in safe, caring custody and are properly supported.
Domestic Violence in California
Domestic violence is abuse committed against an intimate partner. Under California’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act, “abuse” means:
To intentionally or recklessly cause or attempt to cause bodily injury
Sexual assault
To place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to that person or to another
To engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined, including molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, disturbing your peace or destroying your property
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How You Can Take Action
If you are the victim of domestic abuse, take action immediately to protect yourself and others.
Call the police.
Get to safety by going to a law enforcement office, hotel or the home of a family member or friend. Don’t let the abuser know where you are.
Ask law enforcement to obtain an emergency protective order from a judge. The order prohibits your abuser from having any contact with you for seven days, giving you time to take the next steps.
Hire an experienced attorney to represent you.
Communicate with your employer if you need to advise them of work absence related to domestic violence or of any restraining orders.
File for a restraining order to protect you from the person who has abused or threatened you. You must have a close relationship with that person, which includes someone you are or were married to, partnered with, dated or lived with as more than roommates, and those closely related to you or with whom you share a child. You can also file for a restraining order on behalf of minor children.
Other types of restraining orders for other types of relationships include civil harassment restraining orders, elder or dependent adult abuse restraining orders, and workplace violence restraining orders.
End Abuse. Seek Legal Protection.
Restraining orders can order the restrained person to:
Not contact or go near you, your children and others close to you at home, work or school
Move out of your house
Not have a gun
Follow child custody and visitation orders and pay child support
Pay spousal or domestic support and certain bills
Stay away from your pets
Transfer cellphone accounts to you
Not make changes to insurance policies
Not incur large expenses or do anything significant to affect the property
Release or return certain property
Complete a batterer intervention program
Restraining orders cannot end your marriage or establish the parentage of your children.
California Workplace Rights for Victims
California law allows employers the right to seek a temporary restraining order to protect you, other employees and the workplace. Victims of domestic violence may need time off to meet with attorneys, protect children, or receive medical or psychological treatment. Your employer is required to provide reasonable accommodations to protect you. This could include things like altering your work schedule, putting a lock on your door, reassigning you to another job and changing your work telephone number.
Your ability to use the protections afforded for workplace victims’ rights depends upon your willingness to share deeply private information about the abuse.
Domestic Violence Attorney in California
At the Law Office of Karen S. Brown, we will treat you with compassion while using our experience to help you use the full force of the law to protect you from the abuser in your life. We’ve helped make so many lives safer in Southern California including Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Westside and beach communities. Before your abuser commits violence against you again, contact our office so that we can help to protect you. You deserve to have someone on your side – we are here to help